What is CBD and what does it do?

Let’s be honest, it can get a little confusing today to try and figure out what is legal and what is not legal. Some states you can do one thing and in others you can’t, this is especially difficult when it comes to cannabis. It turns out that cannabis plants are “chemical powerhouses” and produce over 400 different types of compounds, both legal and not legal. Yes, marijuana is a major compound, but more than 60 of them are completely specific to the plant genus Cannabis. What does this mean exactly? Well cannabis, or cannabinoid (CBD), holds a variety of the medicinal and therapeutic effects of marijuana but without being psychoactive, aka it won’t get you high, and is legal almost everywhere.

The difference between marijuana and CBD, is the THC, and whether or not it is in the product or not. THC is the compound that gets you high, which is frowned from the medical, and legal perspective. But, if you possess weed, or a weed product, that doesn’t have THC in it, technically there is no violation. “Weed” without THC is actually called hemp, and the rules that regulate it are different, in fact, every state that hasn’t legalized marijuana yet has some sort of law that allows CBD-only products. These of course are meant for therapeutic or medical purposes.

So what does this amazing legal compound do? Well, first of all we need to get down to the science of it all. Within the central nervous system there is something called the endocannabinoid system, there a ton of receptors that bind to cannabinoids. After you introduce cannabinoids and your system binds to them, they are introduced to your bloodstream and then they are spread throughout your entire body. CBD makes things happen, when it is binding to the endocannabinoid system’s receptors it allows the body to be stimulated and changed in all sorts of ways allowing for many health benefits to occur.

Some of these major health focusing on neurological diseases, relieving pain, fighting cancer, and can help improve mental health. Neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s have been helped by using CBD, because of its neuroprotective effect which protects nerve cells from degenerative diseases. As far as relieving pain goes, CBD oil is becoming a highly popular option because it does not have the addictive and dangerous properties like prescription pain killers. In addition, CBD can treat acute, or sudden, pain conditions, as well as have long term benefits. The ability for CBD to help in fighting cancer has also been researched and it has been found that CBD slows the progression of many types of cancers which is pretty amazing! Lastly, CBD can help improve a variety of mental health needs, especially those who have Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. These are just a few examples of what CBD does and how it can help with a variety of medical issues, but it isn’t just limited to medical needs. CBD oils have been known to treat stress and anxiety and is a counterweight to traditional marijuana. It also comes in a variety of products from CBD oils to even health and beauty products, making it available and useful for every person who is interested.